2014 Winter Olympics Workout

We are so so so excited for Sochi!!  We've got some decorations, and some Russian recipes picked out to try for the Opening Ceremonies.  Trust me that was harder than I thought it was going to be.  I've been pinning a bunch of ideas to make the next two weeks awesome.  Even though the Olympics themselves are pretty awesome by themselves.  My favorite is probably the time capsule from Paging Supermom. 

I don't know about you but I always get so inspired by all of the athletes so I thought it would be fun to make a Sochi Olympics workout to counter all of the sitting and watching I will be doing over the next two weeks.  Here it is if you want to join me!  All I know is I really hope no one crashes.  Cuz I hate burpees.  

What is your favorite sport to watch in the winter Olympics?!!  Mine has got to be snowboarding, but I really look forward to watching the ice skating with Ivy.  I remember loving it SO much when I was her age.  

Five Things For Friday: Clean Recipes

If you don't have a foam roller can I just tell you... GO GET ONE!  It will be the best frenemy you have ever had!!

Ok guys.  You know my goal is to get in to some booty shorts at some point this year.  I've been trying really hard to keep my diet super clean.  I am on MyFitnessPal {my username is Jennwarnick} every day putting in my stuff and trying to eat a lot of veggies and protein.  I've made my diary public so you can check out what I've been eating for ideas.  I've had a couple people ask me for the recipe links of stuff they have seen me eating on there.  So here are a few of my faves I thought I'd share...

No bake energy balls from Gimme Some Oven.  

I work out first thing in the morning and since I try to stay in bed as long as possible I don't have time to eat any breakfast.  Not that I really want to either.  I'm still waking up and jumping around on a full stomach is no bueno.    So I started keeping these in the fridge.  I just grab a couple every morning on my way out the door and they give me just enough pep to make it through my workout.  She has a couple different varations on her site you should try them all out. 

Ginger Cilantro Baked Tilapia from The Kitchn

This is probably my favorite dinner right now.  It is so easy and we all love it.  Well, Ivy just likes her tilapia baked plain but loves it when I make this dinner.  I just use the frozen tilapias from Costco.  The longest part is cooking the brown rice to go with it.  

Source: biggest-loser-recipes.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Biggest Loser Pancakes

This is our new go to pancakes.  I add about a half teaspoon of baking powder to the mix.  They are really yummy and super filling.  Even Ivy who could probably win the world championship pancake eating contest only eats three.

Sweet Potato Pancakes from The Gracious Pantry

These are on my list to try.  I am loving sweet potatoes right now and these just sound way yummy to me.  If you are looking for a good source of clean eating recipes check out The Gracious Pantry.  Tons and tons of good information on there.

  
Crockpot Tortilla Soup by Chef in Training

Umm this is our favorite soup.  To keep it clean you need to nix the all the cheese and sour cream and tortilla chips.  Try making your own by just cutting up some corn tortillas and tossing with a little bit of olive oil and salt.  Bake at 400 until crispy.  We also add avocado.  I cut out the chile powder so Ivy will eat it.  I also have just used diced tomatoes and some onions instead of Rotel.  Might be awesome for the Super Bowl eh?  

Have a fun weekend!  And I'd love any other recipes that you have been loving so go ahead and share em! Also I'm thinking Monday is a good day to start Round Three of the Ruffled Sunshine 24 Day Challenge.  See ya then!

2013 Fitness Goals

Is it too late to tell you my New Years Resolutions?  I hope not.   I really wanted to get them written down.  They have been sitting in my head and I'm kind of visual so this will help solidify them for me.  First up are my fitness goals for this year.  

Nothing too crazy.  The booty shorts one is going to be the hardest for me.  I don't want to run around in them or anything.  I just want to know that I could wear them and feel ok about it.  And you know the whole swimsuit thing...  Its going to be hard because of the whole pear shape thing.  But hopefully all of these other goals will help me get that one done.  

How about you?  Did you make any fitness goals this year?

The P90x Results Are In

I told you guys a month ago that I only had one week left of P90x.  I've had some emails with questions about it so I thought I'd share my results and my thoughts on it in case you are wanting to give it a whirl.

First up here's my results.  I'm not quite brave enough to put my measurements out there for the whole world to see, this is scary enough, but here's how I finished up.

K.  The weight I lost all in the first month.  I've stayed the same weight since then but my body measurements have gotten smaller so I look to that as a gauge more than the scale.  I would urge the same for anyone.  I think it has definitely helped to weigh myself more regularly but it isn't the most important number.  I will say that when I started I hadn't weighed myself in a long time and I cried when I did the first time.  I hadn't weighed that much in a long time {like 12 years} and it definitely gave me the motivation I needed.  

The inches I lost in my hips was the best part, but I still have a ways to go in that area.   I definitely store any extra weight in my lower half {thats why I am showing you this rockin picture of my arms HA!}  I feel like I am getting thinner from the head down and the feet up, so my butt especially is still a work in progress.  

All right here's some answers to your questions about P90x.

 *My trusty workout partner and I did the lean version of the program which has more of the cardio dvds and not so much weightlifting. Not so much as in you do a million pushups instead.  The 13 weeks are split in to 3 four week sets so you change up the videos you are doing every four weeks with an "easy" week in between each set.  I would recommend the lean schedule if want a descent mix of cardio and strength training.  Although I would change up the last four weeks of the program if I was going to do it again so that it included a bit more leg work.

*The workouts are hard but not the hardest thing ever, promise. If you are just getting back in to exercising its awesome.  Should I have some medical disclaimer inserted here?!  I think the hardest part actually is the time commitment.  You need at least an hour every day.  I really like to do yoga and pilates but yoga day was my least favorite, mostly because it was 90+ minutes.  And that meant I had to get up even earlier.  Ugh.

  *The Legs + Back video, and the Core Synergystics video are my two favorites probably. I would incorporate those two in to a regular workout routine.   Ultimately what I got from P90x is its just like Tony says... you hate it, but you love it.

*I didn't follow the diet but I did start eating healthier.  I would have had more dramatic results I'm sure if I was more of a stickler on my diet.  I'm really starting to believe that its true what they say about it being 70% diet and 30% exercise.

*The biggest benefit has been how much more energy I have and my dedication has spilled over in to other parts of my life.  My house is cleaner, I'm getting more sleep, I'm happier, I'm more patient and my relationships are better.  In the end I think it came down to a change of attitude and determination for me.  Whether it was p90x or something else it was time for me to get my butt moving.  This just happened to work right for me at the right time.

{this is in no way affiliated with p90x just a normal girls thoughts about it}